Nadine Menendez was found guilty on Monday for orchestrating a bribery operation alongside her husband, disgraced New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, trading his political clout for a series of lavish kickbacks, including gold, a luxury vehicle, and cash.
After deliberating for roughly eight hours over the span of two days, the jury convicted the 58-year-old from Englewood Cliffs on all 15 counts of corruption brought against her in federal court.
Clad in black and wearing a pink face mask, Nadine showed no outward response as the jury foreperson delivered the verdict in a nearly empty courtroom in Manhattan.
Her husband, who played a central role in the corruption case, chose not to appear in court during her trial, which stretched over the course of a month.
Bob Menendez had already been convicted in July for abusing his role in the U.S. Senate for personal gain in the same sweeping corruption scheme.
Following his conviction, the New Jersey Democrat resigned from the Senate and is scheduled to begin serving his 11-year prison sentence in June.
Nadine is due to be sentenced just a few days later, on June 12, and could face a lengthy prison term for her involvement.
Prosecutors said she served as the intermediary between her husband and businessmen linked to the governments of Egypt and Qatar who paid off the couple in exchange for political favors.
In return, jurors heard, the senator exploited his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to push for the release of $300 million in military aid to Egypt that had been blocked due to human rights concerns, among other favors.
“What else can the love of my life do for you?” Nadine asked an Egyptian contact during a dinner in May 2019 at Morton’s Steakhouse, where she was seated beside her cigar-smoking husband.
Jose Uribe, a former insurance broker from New Jersey, testified that he handed Nadine a 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-300 to influence the senator into intervening in a legal matter on his behalf.
“Congratulations mon amour de la vie, we are the proud owners of a 2019 Mercedes,” Nadine wrote to Bob Menendez via text after she received the first installment toward the car — using French for “love of my life.”
FBI agents later discovered the vehicle in their garage, along with a stash of gold bars worth more than $150,000 in a safe belonging to Nadine. The jury was also shown photos of over $400,000 in cash hidden throughout the house, including inside one of the senator’s government-issued jackets.
As bribes rolled in from Uribe, Wael Hana, and Fred Daibes, prosecutors said Nadine actively enabled the sale of her husband’s political influence, labeling her “his partner in crime.”
“The defendant helped Robert Menendez put his power up for grabs,” prosecutor Paul Monteleoni told the jury in his closing argument. “You saw again and again a clear pattern of corruption.”
Nadine began dating Menendez in early 2018, back when she was still known as Nadine Arslanian. Prosecutors said the illicit dealings began shortly thereafter, including with Hana, a longtime acquaintance of Nadine’s before she even met Bob. The two married in 2020.
Now convicted of multiple crimes, including bribery, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice, Nadine could face a substantial prison term. However, legal experts suggest she may receive a sentence similar to her husband’s 11 years.
Bob Menendez was granted a delay in reporting to prison until June 6 so he could “assist” his wife through her legal battle — though he never actually attended any part of her courtroom proceedings.
Nadine did not offer any comment when approached by reporters after the verdict, nor did she address her husband’s absence during the trial.
Her attorney, Barry Coburn, argued during the proceedings that prosecutors failed to prove she had the necessary “knowledge” or “intent” to break the law, but the jury clearly disagreed.
Originally, Nadine was slated to be tried alongside her husband, Hana, and Daibes. But her case was delayed following a breast cancer diagnosis. Hana has since been sentenced to eight years in prison, while Daibes received a seven-year term.
Uribe, who cooperated with authorities after pleading guilty, is expected to be sentenced later this year.
{Matzav.com}